These Springfield Falcons players are talking about playing on a team that wins the Calder Cup – the American Hockey League’s cherished championship mug.

As the Falcons head into the franchise’s first playoff series since 2003, having this gang of four in the locker room gives the team a base of valuable experience. They know what it’s like to win. More important, they know what it takes to win.

Helmer, a 40-year-old playing his 19th season, was signed by president and general manager Bruce Landon just prior to the end of the NHL lockout. Landon knew that young lions John Moore and Tim Erixon would be heading for his NHL affiliate, the Columbus Blue Jackets, as soon as the labor dispute was settled.

He knew he would need a veteran presence on the backline. He went after Helmer, mainly because of his illustrious career, and partly because he knew that he had three Calder Cups on his resume. All that translates into leadership, a valuable commodity in a locker room full of young talent.

Helmer played on his first championship team, the Albany River Rats, in 1994-95. He was 22, in his second pro season.

“Winning the Calder Cup is one of the hardest things to do in hockey, and I fully realized that when it took 14 years before my next one,” Helmer said.

That was with the Hershey Bears of 2008-09. Then it happened again the next season. His Hershey teammates in both seasons included Joudrey and Amadio.

“The playoffs are a real grind, but there’s no feeling quite like it when you lift that cup,” Helmer said.

In his time with Albany, he played for coach Robbie Ftorek, a former Needham High School flash who would go on to play in both the World Hockey Association and the NHL. He also coached NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins.

That 1994-95 season was memorable for the New Jersey Devils organization. It won the Stanley Cup (with Wilbraham’s Bill Guerin in the lineup) and also grabbed the Calder Cup with its Albany affiliate.

“Robbie was a great coach, and he did it alone – no assistant,” Helmer said. “In Hershey, our cup teams were coached by Bob Woods the first year, Mark French the second. All of those coaches had the total respect of their players – and that’s how it is here with this Springfield staff.”

Helmer knows from experience how exciting playoff time can be for local hockey fans.

“It’s a fun time for the whole city,” he said, “and fans can make a big difference. We always say that having an upbeat crowd in the stands is like having an extra guy on the ice. Fans can energize the building.”

Cody Bass won his Calder Cup in 2010-11 with the Binghamton Senators, an underdog team that came on strong at playoff time. His teammates included Ryan Potulny, a former top scorer for the Falcons.

“One of the best times of my life,” Bass said. “It was something we worked for all year, and we weren’t going to accept anything but winning.”

Bass believes the Falcons have that same kind of dedicated team.

“We have what it takes – a good team, a well-coached team. It’s definitely a grind, but it’s great to be playing at this time of year,” Bass said “We know Manchester has been playing well lately and will be tough. There’s a lot of skill on that team. We’ll have to push hard in every game.”

Bass missed most of the season after incurring an injury Oct. 28. It happened when he crashed into the corner as he went all-out to run down a loose puck to prevent an icing call in the closing seconds of a 2-1 victory over Portland.

“Personally, the hardest year of my life, missing all that time, but I’m back playing and feeling ready to pitch in and help this team,” he said.

Joudrey, a sixth-year pro, has had a outstanding season, excelling in all aspects of the game and stepping up to be a force on the power play in the last two months.

He well remembers those Hershey cups, pointing to the playoffs as “a special time, because you play all season for this chance.”

The playoffs, he said, offer a great challenge.

“And nothing comes easy. There are no secrets to winning in the playoffs,” he said. “You have to win the puck battles, and it always comes down to which team outworks and outcompetes. The one that makes the fewest mistakes wins it.”

Amadio, a 10-year veteran, is in his second season with the Falcons. He has seen limited playing time, but has never wavered in his work ethic, and has been a valuable part of a veteran leadership group in the Falcons locker room.

In Hershey’s second straight Calder Cup season, he played full time on defense, and took part in 15 playoff games.

“I think having guys who have won in the playoffs certainly helps,” Amadio said. “When you go through two seasons like we had in Hershey, you know that you have to pick each other up during the playoffs, because there are a lot of ups and downs. In Hershey, we had some special teams, and there’s no better feeling than accomplishing what you set out to do.

“Here, we have everything you need to win – leadership, great goaltending, some key players that were added later in the season. Just a good mix. Our fans have been supportive, and when the playoffs starts, I think they’re going to enjoy the show.”